school house rock!!!!!!

Mac's awesome play!!


Here's Mac singing...it's hard to see her because she's in the back with the microphone.

more school house rock!!!

Brother Sister Day 2007

Palapa in Yelapa

check it out

Ok, this is another dream of mine! So reasonably priced, although limited electricity and what looks like open air living...its so beautiful. So Matt, whatdya think? In 4 years when Silas can climb his own self into a hammock?
Make sure to look at the accomodations when you check out the website above... Casa Arriba and Casa Paloma.
Looks good for multi family vacationing...hint hint... (Craig is anxiously running his hand through his hair right now while Matt breathes loudly through his nose!!)


check out this one
...even better!!! books, hammocks, the sea, and a kickass kitchen

next great series...

We needed to move on...it was getting too sad around here post Harry Potter...this series seems pretty good so far. Inkheart is the first of the trilogy. And you gotta love a name like Cornelia Funke. Its also gonna be a movie coming out in March!!

The world in Seven Pictures...

only in china

only in India

only in Texas

only in Mexico

only in Hawaii

only in America!!

sleepers...and sleepovers...

I had a dentist appointment today and I rushed home worrying that Silas was fussy...I guess not. So cute. They are still sleeping!
It is such a gift to have have a truly great baby-care-giver my kids LOVE!! Thanks Meg.



...and speaking of people the kids LOVE...NANA!!
Here are Mac and Emmett on their annual adventure at the zoo sleepover with Nana. This is the 5th year for Mac and the 3rd for Emmett. Lucky kids all around.

never thought I'd do this...

New best (white trash) idea!

I put Scotch Tape on a couple of individual baby fingers and my sweet little one spent at least 10 minutes fiddling with them...! Brilliant discovery...enabled me to make a very frustrating call to SDG&E today with minimal baby chaos! Pretty funny too.

how I feel now that we've finished the book...

Truly great book (I won't say more...no spoilers here...and I apologize Emil for previous book slips!...)...but I am sad it has come to an end!...
Then again, it is sweet to hear Mac reading book one all over again to Emmett tonight. I guess he felt he was too young when we started the series the first time around to fully appreciate it...so I guess it never ends!
(sheesh Annie, get a grip!)

jewelry organizer

before!

after!

It's hard to see how incredibly disorganized and tangled all my necklaces were as they were all on top of one another.(poor smothered Gnish!) Emmett and I spent a lot of time getting everything sorted out. I always wanted to make something like this...thinking of buying an old frame and screwing in hooks etc but this is great because it holds all kinds of earings, posts included. I love this wooden frame...I got Mac a smaller one in a lighter wood too...the idea inspired by Cami. When we visited she had one like it in her bathroom that I coveted! Here's the link www.walljewelryorganizer.com.
The guy who makes them seems super cool too. He e-mailed pictures of the completed projects and wanted feedback. Not cheap but a great thing to put on your xmas list!
Again, thanks Cami for being ever inspiring!!

wobbily mobility!!...

Emmett teaches Silas how to use his pusher! (while Mama uses embarressing voice...)

today's pretty things...

oodles of plums...!!!!!





It's always a surprise seeing sunflowers grow this big this quickly!

The 7th Book!!...

It's finally here!



A good time was had by all at the Harry Potter Party at 12:00 midnight last night...yes, we all stayed awake...even Emmett... to hear the first chapter read in the car on the way home.
All very exciting.




You will also notice Mac's new short hair. (boohoo, its sad to say goodbye to the longer hair of ages 3-8) It actually looks great on her and saves us much brushing grief!!

Our Harry Potter predictions:
Ginny and Snape will die, both trying to save Harry. At this point I also think Dumbledore is still alive somehow...so does Matt (obviously wishful thinking!)
I hope it's not Ron that dies but we know two main characters gotta go...maybe Harry AND Ginny? but part of me thinks it may also be...OK I know nothing but somehow Ginny's love of Harry has gotta mean something...
aaaaaaaaah!
The great part about J.K. Rowling's writing is that the plot is compelling but the writing is better so it's not just about what happens but HOW it happens!
Time to start reading!

Belmont Park

Look close and you'll see Mama, Mac and Emmett on the crazy submarine

They also rode the Tilt-a-Whirl.........TWICE!

Some lounging on the yacht.......

Water gun fights! Emmett won and got Silas a "Care Bear" stuffed animal which Mac and Emmett named Greenie-Greenie.

BUMPER CARS!!!!!!!!!!!

Boy, you gotta love summer

Papa

Pablo is 6!!

Happy Birthday!!



(pablo 2 months, Emmett 7 months)
Lauren reminded me that 6 years ago I was watching Aida while Lauren was in the hospital having Pablo. It seems like yesterday.
Now he's such a great kid. Such a good friend to Emmett!
We love you Pablo. Happy Birthday!

Silas' Official First Word!!!

"BIRD"


...and all because of those kindergarten zebra finches who continuously chirp and tweet and are currently laying eggs and nesting.
The picture is of the mobile made in honor of the bird that is indeed the word.
(We've been trying all day to get Silas to say "bird" on bloggable video but no such luck. It is so frickin' cute, though.)

Emmett's new favorite book...

"The Dangerous Book for Boys"




I've caught Matt reading it quite a bit too!!

Thanks BeBe...
and thanks to Cami for the great picture!!

two blasts for Cami and Craig...

I love this picture.

Some early pictures of Mac that remind us of Finley. (we really miss her...and you both!!)

The Baptism of Finley Joyous and Silas Loyal...

Blogging New York...

We did so much in such a short time in NY. Matt, I am sure, will do some blogging later about his adventures on a night out with the guys and our day at the Natural Histiory Museum...(whose visitor numbers increased by 2,000 people a day since the movie "The Night at the Museum"!!) But here are some of the highlights from my cameras perspective...

...went with Megan and Silas on an epic adventure to St. Marks Place, Washington Square Park, Soho and all over the place in 98 degree weather. Megan is an awesome person to cruise around with...(notice the Mandala store next to Whatever...!! and click to enlarge Silas' view of the village and NY in general!)

...and speaking of cruising...Rich and Lisa (aka Bebe and Grancops) took us on a fabulous harbor cruise with lunch and entertainment. It was my first time seeing the Statue of Liberty, if you can believe it. Mac especially loved it!! (I thought I had taken more pictures but most of them were lame, bebe...maybe you have better ones??)





Silas liked the swings and I enjoyed waking up early and getting an iced coffee for a trip to the city playground .

And for Mac, it was all about Harry Potter. Megan, Mac and I got a chance to see it on our last night. (Mac will review it later.) Such a perfect ending to NYC.